Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP104’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  cultivar named ‘DANCOP104’ is disclosed, characterized by early and abundant extra large violet flowers, a mounded, semi-trailing compact growth habit, very branched form with long, strong branches and moderate vigor. The new variety is a  Sutera , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Sutera cordata.

Variety denomination: ‘DANCOP104’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Sutera varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during May of 2010.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Sutera cordata ‘cv. 10-1580’ The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in February of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2010 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel during March of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 20 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANCOP104’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP104’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANCOP104’ as a new and distinct Sutera cultivar:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing, compact growth habit     -   2. Extra large violet colored flowers     -   3. Very well branched plants     -   4. Early, abundant flowering     -   5. Medium plant vigor

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP104’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Sutera cordata ‘cv. 10-1580’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP104’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. Semi-trailing, elongated growth habit. Seed parent has a         trailing and elongated growth habit.     -   2. Violet flowers. Seed parent has blue flowers.     -   3. Very branched with long, strong branches. Seed parent is a         moderate branching plant.     -   4. Early, abundant flowering. Seed parent flowers late, with         medium quantity of flowering.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP104’ are comparable to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANCOP24’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,343. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANCOP104’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Comparison variety has semi-trailing elongated growth habit         whereas candidate variety has semi-trailing, compact growth         habit.     -   2. Comparison variety has lavender colored flowers; the new         variety has violet colored flowers.     -   3. Comparison variety has medium vigor whereas candidate variety         has strong vigor.     -   4. The new variety has smaller leaves.     -   5. The new variety has a smaller overall plant spread.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP104’ are also comparable to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANGUL14’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,194. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DANCOP104’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Comparison variety has trailing compact growth habit whereas         candidate variety has semi-trailing, compact growth habit.     -   2. Comparison variety has white colored flowers; the new variety         has violet colored flowers.     -   3. Comparison variety is less vigorous.     -   4. Plants of the comparison variety has a small overall         diameter.     -   5. Comparison variety has medium branching; whereas the         candidate variety is very well branched.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANCOP104’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months old from rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of the flowers.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Mini Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANCOP104’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Winter to Spring in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 16° C. during the night. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘DANCOP104’.

PROPAGATION

-   Typical propagation material: Vegetative uttings. -   Time to rooting: 7 to 10 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous roots.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: Approximately 3 months old. -   Pot size of plant described: 13 cm. -   Growth habit: Semi-trailing, compact. -   Height: About 10 cm. -   Plant spread: About 40 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—About 12.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—About 30 cm.         -   Form.—Cylindrical.         -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Green 137 C.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Strength.—Good. -   Internode length: About 1.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, petiolate.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 60 per branch.         -   Average length.—3 cm.         -   Average width.—2.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Velvety.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent.         -   Aspect.—Flat, angled about 90° to the branch.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 B. Young             foliage under side: RHS Green 137 C. Mature foliage upper             side: RHS Green 147 A. Mature foliage under side: RHS Green             147 B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Green 147 A. Venation color under side: RHS Green 147 C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 0.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.1 cm.             Color: RHS Green 147 A. Texture: Slightly velvety.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: All year round. -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting: About 45. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Axillary, solitary     salverform single flowers. -   Rate of flower opening: 3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened flower. -   Flower longevity on plant: About 7 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Violet 86 A. -   Flower size:     -   -   Diameter.—About 2.6 cm.         -   Length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Corolla tube diameter.—About 1 cm. -   Corolla/petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Symmetric.         -   Lobe length.—About 1 cm.         -   Lobe width.—About 1 cm.         -   Quantity.—5.         -   Texture.—Velvety.         -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.         -   Lobe shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—About 90° to the tube.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet 83 A.             Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 83 C. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Near RHS Violet N87 A. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet N87 B.         -   Visible corolla tube color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 21 A. -   Calyx/sepals:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.         -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—About 0.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.1 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Slightly velvety.         -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Green 137 B. Lower Surface: RHS             Green 137 B. -   Peduncle: None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Green 137 B.         -   Orientation.—Slanted upward and outward.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly pubescent. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.2 cm. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Orange 21 B.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS Yellow-Orange 21 B. Quantity: Sparse. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: About 1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow- Green 150 B.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Undulate. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 151 B.             Ovary Color: RHS Green 143 C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: About 25 elliptic, small (1 mm long) Beige seeds     per one elliptic Brown capsule. Minute seeds, not well measured by     R.H.S. chart. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     pathogens and pests common to Sutera have been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures     between 5 to 40° C. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP104’ as herein illustrated and described. 